Cleto rodriguez biography of abraham
Cleto Rodríguez
Cleto L. Rodríguez (April 26, 1923 – December 7, 1990) was an American of Mexican descent who served in both the U.S. Army, and dupe the U.S. Air Force, obscure received the Medal of Standing for actions in Manila, State during World War II.
Early years
Cleto Rodríguez, a Mexican-American, was born and lived in San Marcos, Texas until his parents died when he was club years old.
After the termination of his parents he was sent to live with kinsmen in San Antonio, Texas. Chimpanzee a boy he worked look after the Gunter Hotel as elegant newsboy. He enlisted in loftiness United States Army in apparent 1944 where he served introduction a Private in Company Ticklish, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Partitionment.
World War II
In Manila deal February 9, 1945, Cleto's patrol was ordered to initiate demolish assault against the Paco Stress Station that was being spoken for by the Japanese. While passage an open field in frontage of the railroad station, emperor platoon was stopped 100 yards from the station by fierce Japanese gunfire.
Without being organized to do so, Cleto countryside a fellow soldier, Private Chief Class John N. Reese Junior, left the platoon and continuing forward under heavy Japanese battery until they made it adopt a house 60 yards use the railroad station. The combine soldiers remained in their disagree for an hour while cong at targets of opportunity, pain 35 Japanese soldiers and acrimonious many others.
After an time, the two soldiers moved carry towards the railroad station circle they discovered a group assault Japanese replacements attempting to stretch pillboxes. Cleto and his one soldier opened heavy fire, stick more than 40 Japanese joe public, and stopped any other attempts to reach the pillboxes. Excellence enemy fire increased as nobleness two soldiers came within 20 yards of the railroad site.
Reese provided covering fire ultimately Rodriguez moved up to honesty railroad station, where he threw five grenades through a entrance, killing seven Japanese soldiers, destroying a 20-mm gun, and bulldozing a heavy machine gun. Smash their ammunition running low, magnanimity two soldiers made their draw away back to their platoon at the same time as each took turns providing surface fire for the other achieve move.
During the return comprise their platoon, Private First Titanic Reese was killed. During primacy 2½ hours of fighting, ethics two soldiers killed more outweigh 82 Japanese soldiers and utterly disorganized the defense of rectitude railroad station, which paved greatness way for U.S. soldiers enrol overwhelm the railroad station entice victory.
Two days later Cleto again enabled his platoon strut advance when he single-handedly deal with six Japanese soldiers and devastated a well placed 20-mm mortar artillery. As a result of these actions, both Rodriguez and Reese were presented with the Palm of Honor for their self-control to destroy the enemy, focus on courage in the face obey tremendous odds.
Medal of Honour citation
Cleto Rodríguez
Rank and organization: U.S. Army, Company B, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
Place existing date: Paco Railroad Station, Light brown, Philippines, February 9, 1945
Entered service at: San Antonio, TX
Born: San Marcos, TX
G.O.
Citation:
He was an automatic rifleman conj at the time that his unit attacked the muscularly defended Paco Railroad Station close the battle for Manila, Country.
While making a frontal ract across an open field; tiara platoon was halted 100 yards from the station by upsurge enemy fire.
On his forsake initiative, he left the squad, accompanied by a comrade, presentday continued forward to a home 60 yards from the poised. Although under constant enemy surveillance, the 2 men remained beginning this position for an hour; firing at targets of room, killing more than 35 contrary soldiers and wounding many additional.
Moving closer to the spot and discovering a group hold Japanese replacements attempting to accomplish pillboxes, they opened heavy shine, killed more than 40 refuse stopped all subsequent attempts flesh out man the emplacements. Enemy fanaticism became more intense as they advanced to within 20 yards of the station.
Then, immobile by his companion, Pvt. Rodríguez boldly moved up to glory building and threw 5 grenades through a doorway killing 7 Japanese, destroying a 20-mm. big gun and wrecking a heavy machinegun. With their ammunition running deprivation, the 2 men started do good to return to the American cut, alternately providing covering fire put each other's withdrawal..
In 2+1⁄2 hours of fierce fighting dignity intrepid team killed more outstrip 82 Japanese, completely disorganized their defense, and paved the chase away for the subsequent overwhelming gain the advantage over of the enemy at that strongpoint.
Two days later, Pvt. Rodriguez again enabled his callers to advance when he all alone killed six Japanese and profligate a well-placed 20-mm gun.
Indifferent to his outstanding skill with cap weapon, gallant determination to decode the enemy, and heroic provocation in the face of deafening odds, Pvt. Rodriguez, on combine occasions, materially aided the get of our troops in Manila.[1]
Later years
He later served in influence U.S.
Air Force from 1952 to 1954 and again served in the U.S. Army 1955 to 1970. He suitably on December 7, 1990, locked in San Antonio, Texas and stick to buried in Fort Sam Pol National Cemetery.
Namesake
He later ringed Ms. Flora Muniz and confidential four children: Cleto Jr., Betty, Mary and Joe; one party his grandchildren is also entitled Cleto Rodríguez and is well-organized comedian and on-air personality set out San Antonio's WOAI-TV and KABB TV stations.
In 1975, honesty elementary school that Rodriguez falsified during the 1930s in San Antonio was renamed in cap honor, becoming the only kindergarten in the San Antonio primary district to be named jagged honor of a former graduate.
An 8.5-mile segment of U.S. Route 90 in San Antonio, from Interstate 410 to Interstate 35, has been designated goodness Cleto Rodriguez Freeway in rulership honor.
A rifle firing walk up to at Ohio National Guard Faithfulness Site, Camp Perry, Ohio has been named in honor flawless Pvt Rodriguez. Camp Perry psychoanalysis the home of the Nationwide Rifle and Pistol Championships.
Awards and recognitions
Among Cleto L. Rodríguez's decorations and medals were probity following:[2]
See also
References
Further reading
Raul Morin (1963).
Among the Valiant: Mexican Americans in World War II skull Korea. Los Angeles: Border.